OceanaGold Ltd, an Australian listed mining company, announced on Thursday that its Didipio gold and copper project in the Philippines was on track. Commercial production is being seen possible by early 2013 for the mine as all local laws have been met with compliance.
Company Chief Executive Officer Mick Wilkes said that the company had also upheld ethical, responsible and sustainable mining operations. This was a reaction to alluded violation of human rights of indigenous people by the government’s human rights body in Manila.
The head of the human rights commission Loretta Ann Rosales had said on Monday that the agency had found OceanaGold violating the indigenous people’s rights to adequate housing, freedom of movement and manifesting their culture and identity.
The mine is located in the Nueva Vizcaya province and is expected to have a life of about 20 years. The Didipio mine situated north of the capital holds 1.41 million ounces of gold and 169,400 tonnes of copper as per a report released by OceanaGold.
Construction on the mine was halted in late 2008 when it was seen as too high a cost at $320 million. However last October the company decided to restart work on the project with an initial estimated cost of $140 million.